Support for blind cases

ABSTRACT

A support specially designed to attach a blind case to the underside of a floor/ceiling vault or other kind of wall, allowing protection of the outer side oft he case against strong impacts or blows, without having a negative repercussion on the occupation of space which might create problems due to the case jutting into the inside of the room. The support proposed is formed of a main profile ( 5 ), whose general configuration is an “L” shape, made of aluminum, for example, and whose horizontal axis ( 6 ) is designed to be adapted to the ceiling or the innerside of the floor/ceiling vault ( 1 ), being fitted to same with screws ( 7 ) or any other appropriate means, while its vertical axis, which corresponds to reference ( 5 ), constitutes a prolonging skirt that goes down the general front plane of the facade.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention refers to a support specially designed to attach ablind case to the underside of a floor/ceiling vault or other kind ofwall, making up for the possible dimensional differences in height thatmay exist between such elements, such as for example, the differences inthe height of ceilings in various buildings; a support which alsoconveniently allows protection of the outer side of the case againststrong impacts or blows, without having a negative repercussion on theoccupation of space which might create problems due to the case juttinginto the inside of the room.

[0002] This universal support, which may be adapted to cases of varyingwidth and height, also helps to camouflage the blind case on the facadewith a slat-like design, so that the case is camouflaged with the blinditself.

[0003] The object of the invention is to achieve a support with themaximum possible structural rigidity, while also allowing access to thecase during installation of same.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0004] It is becoming increasingly common for each window with itscorresponding blind to form a single case which is installed in a singleoperation on the corresponding indoor or outdoor wall.

[0005] Generally speaking, these window-blind cases are designed so thatthe upper base of the blind case rests on the floor/ceiling vault of thebuilding and is conveniently attached to same.

[0006] However, in practice, there are significant differences in thedistance between floor/ceiling vaults, so that the blind case must oftenbe left at a considerable distance from the said floor/ceiling vault aswell as at variable magnitudes, which leads to two problems: on the onehand, the case may not be properly installed directly on thefloor/ceiling vault, i.e. on the ceiling, and on the other hand, it isnecessary to carry out complementary operations to finish the facades,in order to fill in the space defined between the cases and the ceiling,which sometimes affects the aesthetic appearance of the facade, as wellas creating significant operational difficulties.

[0007] Another problem, even when the case may be adapted and attacheddirectly to the ceiling, consists of the fact that the front or outerwall of the case is completely unprotected against possible impacts fromoutside both during the installation and afterwards (strong winds, hail,etc).

[0008] The applicant holds Spanish utility model with application number200200289, consisting of a support for blind cases that solves theaforementioned problems, whereby the support is formed by the functionalcombination of two parts, specifically two “L” profiles, one of which isdesigned so that one of its axes is screwed or attached in anotherappropriate manner to the underside of the floor/ceiling vault and theother covers most of the front side of the case, while the other isintended to simply “fit into” the former, by means of a deep groove onthe former, into which one of the axes of the second profile fitstelescopically, allowing it to be adapted to various case widths, whileits other axis is partially adapted to the innerside of the case,establishing continuity with same regardless of the distance existingbetween the upper base of the case and the floor/ceiling vault.

[0009] This solution no doubt presents a problem of instability for thesecond “L” profile, as it must be left free, as if we were to attempt toattach it to the floor/ceiling vault, for example, by screwing, itsvertical axis would not allow the case to be installed in the correctplace.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The support proposed by this invention maintains the features ofthe aforementioned utility model and fully solves the aforementionedproblems, ensuring correct attachment to the floor/ceiling vault andvery easy installation of the case inside such support.

[0011] In doing so, to be more specific and in accordance with one ofthe characteristics of the invention, the outer “L” profile includes,instead of the aforementioned groove, several buffers on the innersideof what should be its horizontal or upper axis which, in collaborationwith a buffer (10) established on the corresponding edge of the secondprofile, allow the establishment of any relative position between bothprofiles to suit any case width, after which both profiles are screwedto the floor/ceiling vault or wall in question and thereafter remainperfectly still.

[0012] In order that the vertical axis of the second profile may not bean obstacle when installing the case, the design provides that thesecond profile be split in two halves, one for attachment to theaforementioned floor/ceiling vault or wall and the other forming itsvertical skirt, knuckle-jointed to the former so that the vertical skirtmay be lowered to a horizontal position when installing the case andafter the case has been installed, may be swung downwards to be adaptedto the innerside of such case.

[0013] For the knuckle-joint between the two sectors of the secondprofile, there is a groove on the upper edge of the vertical skirt,significantly more than a semi-cylinder, while the corresponding edge ofthe horizontal sector has a cylindrical ridge on top of a brattice thatconnects it to the rest of the profile, whereby the brattice isconveniently placed so as to allow the skirt or second sector of theprofile to swing through two limit situations at 90° angles.

[0014] In accordance with another of the characteristics of theinvention, the design provides that both the groove on the skirt and theridge on the first sector of this second profile are not exactlycylindrical, but slightly elliptical, so that in the maneuver to swingthe skirt upwards, the joint is jammed to maintain the skirt in a stableopen position while the case is being installed, thereby leaving theworker both hands free, and that after the case is installed, the skirtshould be pulled manually into its final vertical position.

[0015] Finally and in accordance with another of the characteristics ofthe invention, there are longitudinal, narrow-mouthed grooves on theouter ends of the upperside of the support, where the respective sealsmay be placed between the support and the floor/ceiling vault or floorin question, while there is another similar groove on the inside of thevertical skirt and beside its lower, free edge, for a third seal, inthis case, to seal the case itself.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] In order to complement the description being made and with a viewto allowing for a better understanding of the characteristics of theinvention in accordance with an example of the preferred embodiment ofsame, a set of drawings are attached as an integral part of suchdescription, representing the following in an illustrative andnon-restrictive manner:

[0017]FIG. 1.—Shows a section detail of the profile which is part of thesupport for blind cases, the object of the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 2.—Shows a section of the first sector which is part of thesecond “L” profile.

[0019]FIG. 3.—Shows a section detail of the second sector of the second“L” profile, i.e. the sector which complements the sector represented inFIG. 2.

[0020]FIG. 4.—Shows a section detail of the joint between the twosectors of the second “L” profile, showing in heavy and dotted lines thetwo relative extreme positions the latter may adopt.

[0021]FIG. 5.—Shows a schematic side elevation view of a blind caseproperly attached to the floor/ceiling vault of a building using thesupport shown in the previous figures.

[0022]FIG. 6.—Finally, according to a representation that is similar tothe previous figure, shows the same structure as in the aforementionedfigure, but in the case of a greater distance between the case and thefloor/ceiling vault and for a wider blind case.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0023] In the aforementioned figures, (1) refers to the floor/ceilingvault of the building and (2) refers to the blind case which has beenrepresented in an entirely schematic fashion, without any componentsother than the axis (3) to turn the blind around and the opening (4)that allows the blind to go outside, whereas it is evident that suchcase should include other components, such as an inner door for accessto its mechanisms, a pulley to drive the axis (3) by means of a tape,cord, cable or similar, etc.

[0024] The width of the case (2) may vary according to the height of theblind and therefore to the diameter of same when rolled up inside thecase and similarly, the distance between the aforementioned case (2) andthe floor/ceiling vault (1) may also vary according to the height of thestoreys, as has been graphically shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0025] Therefore, the support proposed in this invention is formed of amain profile (5), whose general configuration is an “L” shape, made ofaluminum, for example, and whose horizontal axis (6) is designed to beadapted to the ceiling or the innerside of the floor/ceiling vault (1),being fitted to same with screws (7) or any other appropriate means,while its vertical axis, which corresponds to reference (5), constitutesa prolonging skirt that goes down the general front plane of the facade,a skirt which extends as far as the front or lower edge of the case (2),which it should for the most part cover.

[0026] The main or first profile (5) includes on the innerside of itshorizontal axis, several buffers (8) for attachment to the secondprofile (9) or auxiliary profile, so that these buffers (8) allow toselectively situate a ridge or protrusion (10) on the top of thecorresponding edge on the auxiliary profile (9), in order to match thecombined contour height of both profiles to the width of differentcases, as may be seen by comparing FIGS. 5 and 6. After selecting therelative positioning between profiles (5) and (9), the latter may alsobe attached to the floor/ceiling vault (1) using screws (11) or otherappropriate means, preferably by means of small longitudinal drawings(12) which would improve support of the profile on the floor/ceilingvault (1).

[0027] The auxiliary profile (9) is split into two physicallyindependent sectors: one upper, horizontal sector, corresponding toreference (9) itself and another sector (13), determining a verticalskirt intended to be adapted to the innerside of the case (2).

[0028] These two sectors (9-13) are knuckle jointed together andtherefore, the inner edge of the horizontal sector (9) includes abrattice in the form of a hook (14), with a ridge (15) tending towards acylindrical shape, while the upper edge of the skirt (13) in turn has anarrow-mouthed groove (16), also tending towards a cylindrical shape, sothat the non-cylindrical configuration of the ridge (15) and the groove(16) means that the joint between elements (15) and 16) is jammed whenlifting the skirt and placing it parallel to the upper sector (9) , thusmaintaining the skirt (3) stable in the open position showed by thedotted lines in FIG. 4, thereby leaving the worker both hands free wheninstalling the blind (2) in its final location.

[0029] The main profile (5) includes beside the outer edge of its upperaxis (6) a narrow-mouthed groove (17) which is open on the outside,whereas another similar groove (18) is situated beside the inner edge ofthe first sector (9) of the auxiliary profile, for the purposes ofreceiving two rubber seals which, after the profiles are attached, areperfectly adapted to the floor/ceiling vault (1), leaving the latterfully sealed.

[0030] Furthermore, on the innerside of the skirt (13) and beside itsinner edge, there is another narrow-mouthed groove (19) which receives asimilar seal for tightness on the innerside of the case (2).

1. A support for blind cases; specially designed to make up for possibledifferences in height between the blind case and the floor/ceiling vaultsituated above such case and of the type constituted by the functionalcombination of two “L” shaped profiles, whereas one of the axes of onesuch profile is designed to be adapted to the outerside of the case andattached to the floor/ ceiling vault or wall in question and the secondprofile is designed to fit into the former, with the possibility ofregulating its position and adapting its position to the innerside ofthe case; which is characterized by the fact that there are severalbuffers on the underside of its horizontal axis which may be selectivelyused to fit a ridge on the corresponding, free edge of the secondprofile, which like the first, is screwed to the floor/ceiling vault orwall, with the peculiarity that the second “L” profile is split into twoarticulated sectors, one to be attached to the floor/ceiling vault orwall and the other constituting a skirt able to swing 90° between alimit horizontal position which allows free access to install the caseand another significantly vertical position in which it is partiallyadapted to the innerside of such case.
 2. A support for blind cases,according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the edge that joinsthe first sector of the second profile to the skirt or second sector ofsame is in the form of a hook-shaped brattice with an almost-cylindricalridge, while the upper edge of the aforementioned skirt has analmost-cylindrical groove, significantly more than a semi-cylinder, toestablish the articulated joint between both sectors of the auxiliaryprofile.
 3. A support for blind cases, according to claim 2,characterized by the fact that both the aforementioned ridge and thecomplementary groove take on a slightly elliptical shape, so that in themaneuver to swing the skirt upwards, the joint is jammed to maintain theskirt in a stable open position while the case is being installed.
 4. Asupport for blind cases, according to the previous claims, characterizedby the fact that the main profile includes on its horizontal axis andbeside the edge that joins onto its vertical axis, a narrow-mouthedgroove, whereas similar grooves are situated on the first sector of theauxiliary profile, beside its knuckle joint to the second sector;grooves designed to receive two seals that are deformed in installationagainst the floor/ceiling vault or wall in question, while on theinnerside of the skirt, beside its inner, free edge, there is anothergroove which receives a similar seal for tightness on the innerside ofthe case.